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The broken system behind our worst cattle epidemic

The state neglected its duties and this led to foot and mouth disease spreading across the country

Buffaloes are one of the main attractions in the Kruger National Park. They carry the foot and mouth disease virus but seldom get sick from it.

Buffaloes of the Kruger National Park are carriers of foot and mouth disease. This is why cattle on the border of the park sometimes get infected.
The Department of Agriculture used to control the disease by establishing a protection zone around Kruger. This resulted in most of South Africa being declared an area free of foot and mouth disease.
But the state neglected its duties and by early 2019 the protection zone system was broken, eventually giving rise to our current epidemic.
A scathing 2022 report by a task team appointed by the Minister…

Read More: The broken system behind our worst cattle epidemic.

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